Electric vehicles can usually go beyond 300,000 miles – especially when the battery pack is well maintained and cared for. But most owners unknowingly damage it every day. So how to extend EV battery life? EV battery replacements are expensive – going upwards of $20,000. To help you avoid that expensive reality, this blog will mention 5 of the most common mistakes you should avoid to optimize your EV battery to the fullest.
Keep reading to learn more.
The battery pack is the heart of your electric vehicle (EV) and it will work properly for at least 15 years if you maintain it well. Even simple habits – like how you charge and drive – can have a huge impact on your battery’s performance.
Every time you make these 5 mistakes, you shave months off your EV battery's life (and throw money away on maintenance services).
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Sometimes fast charging is a good solution, especially on longer journeys or tighter schedules, but it creates more heat than the other slower charging methods. The more frequently you fast-charge the battery, the more it degrades due to excessive heat, thereby reducing its overall capacity and service life.
Only use Level 2 charging stations at home or in public when you need to recharge. Try to use fast charging only in case of an emergency or when making a long-distance trip. If you must fast charge, do not charge above 80% as this will reduce heat buildup and stress on the battery.
When you constantly charge your EV battery to a 100% or drain it to 0%, you actually wear out the cells which shortens the battery's life span significantly.
Maintain the charge between 20-80% capacity (this is called the "green zone") for your daily use. Your EV might have the option to set the charging limit through built-in software which you can use to keep the charging under control.
If you have planned a long trip, it is okay to charge up to 100%, but better avoid doing it frequently.
Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can deteriorate your EV’s battery, especially if the exposure is too frequent. Extreme heat can cause malfunctions in battery systems while cold weather can affect the battery pack’s range and efficiency.
Always park in shaded or climate-controlled areas wherever possible. If you can’t, then use a car cover or sunshade to protect your EV from direct sunlight. In winter, use your EV's battery preconditioning feature before driving as this will improve the range and reduce the strain on your battery.
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Manufacturers usually push new software versions with updates that can usually improve battery management, save more power and enhance the overall performance. If you don’t check for and install such updates regularly, you might miss the opportunity to improve these functions and thus, prolong the life of your battery.
Check for updates every other month or enable auto-updates if your EV supports it. Stay informed about new features or improvements through your manufacturer's app or website.
Quick acceleration, heavy braking and frequent high-speed driving will drain the EV battery faster than normal and overload the motor and other parts of the vehicle. Try to accelerate smoothly and keep a uniform speed to preserve your battery and lower the consumption of energy. Use eco-driving modes (if available) to optimize energy usage.
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